July 17, 2016
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
Next week’s sermon is “Belonging to a Church”, by Jim Roberts.
Sympathy of the Congregation is extended to:
- The family of David S. Miller who died on July 5
- The family of Mary Lou Shelton who died on July 10.
Second Hour Bible Study- Following Time with Young Disciples and the Passing of the Peace, all children in grades 1-5 are invited to join us for Bible Study in room E-113. Look for Janet Chambers, who will walk the children to their classroom. If this is your child’s first time visiting Second Hour Bible Study, please accompany them to the room so that you can sign them in and get acquainted with our teachers.
Youth- During worship, the youth are invited to sit with Youth Director Payne Warner in the rear gallery.
Youth News– Due to traveling for work and vacations, regularly scheduled youth events will be taking a hiatus until the end of July. Notice will go out when events restart on a regular basis. Please watch your email for notice of summer events such as pool parties, bowling, and movie parties. If you would like to be on the Youth email distribution, email Payne at youth@firstpresby.com.
Thanks to our child care volunteers today in our nursery, toddler and preschool rooms. All child care rooms are equipped with live video feeds of the worship service. Do you love children and babies? Call the church office,
(304)343-8961, to volunteer in this special ministry.
Are you a Kroger Community Rewards customer? Kroger Plus Card shopper? The Kroger Company will make a contribution to First Presby each time you use your Kroger Plus card when you designate the church as your choice of charity. Participation does not affect your gas point total. To enroll your card, go to www.kroger.com/communityrewards and select First Presby as your church. If you need help, stop by or call the church office during the week with your Kroger Plus Card and we will be happy to register it for you.
Knitting and Crocheting- The knitting and crocheting group will be meeting on July 19, at 10:00 a.m., in room E-406, August 2, at 6:00 p.m., at the home of Laura Ceperley, and August 16, at 10:00 a.m., in room E-406. For more information, please contact the church office.
New Sunday School Class Begins- Sojourners Class began a new study this morning, July 17. We will meet on Sundays at 9:15 a.m., in room 411 of the Education Building. Dr. Jodi Magness presents, “Jesus and His Jewish Influences”. Her lectures (DVD) will be followed by discussion led by Bob Newman. For more information, please call Bob at 304-345-0225.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Dry or Canned Milk, Peanut Butter
Are you receiving the weekly announcements in your e-mail? If not, call the church office to update your e-mail address. In addition to the once a week announcement sheet, we will e-mail you only with very special or late-breaking news. We won’t “spam” your inbox. We promise.
Thank You! The Food Pantry would like to extend their gratitude to our lovely facility staff Bernard, Howard, and Lee for all of their help in loading and unloading donations, carrying heavy, bulky items, and for just being there when we need you! You guys are wonderful!
“On the Green” Family Sign-ups: We are trying something new for our “Fellowship on the Green” after worship this summer. Our usual small groups–classes and divisions–will cover fewer Sundays for bringing refreshments. This will allow 2 or 3 families to participate together on a Sunday of their choice. Sign up on the poster in the hall or call the office to share being the hosts of “On the Green” this summer. Instructions are included. Open Sundays are July 31, August 28, and September 4 and 11. Please take advantage of this new opportunity to share in the hospitality of First Presby this summer.
More about the music: We now have an important new resource, a volume of research on every tune and text in our hymnal written by the Reverend Carl P. Daw, Jr. M.A., M.Div., Ph.D. entitled, Glory to God: A Companion. This book contains extended articles about each text and tune in our hymnal. Here’s an excerpt about this morning’s concluding hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”:
“Although numerous suggestions have been made for melody sources (plainchant, psalm tunes, a French chanson, Hans Sach’s ‘Silberweise’), no convincing precedent has been found…Given his known musical abilities, it seems reasonable to assume that Luther did indeed write his own tune for this text, using familiar rhythmic and melodic patterns accessible for congregational singing. One measure of his skillfulness is the survival of his tune despite all the changes it has undergone as the result of shifts in musical taste…The Presbyterian version, for example, has some measures that have remained unaltered since the 1895/1911 hymnal, and some from 1933, with everything reaching the present form in the Hymnbook (1955) …Although it seeks to perpetuate the spirit of Bach’s treatment of this chorale in his Cantata no. 80, it is not directly taken from that work.”
For more fun tidbits about our music and hymn texts, visit a church copy of the Companion in our church library or look through the copy on the piano at the front of the sanctuary after worship.
Look for the big map on the bulletin board in the hallway! Whenever you travel, bring home a bulletin from the churches you visit, and we’ll “map” you on the board. By the end of the summer, our board will be full, and we’ll be connected to brothers and sisters all over the world! Leave your travel bulletins in the church office, and be sure to include your name!
Electronic Giving- Did you know that we can easily set up a recurring gift to the church directly from your checking or savings account? This can easily be done on our church website. Also, you can offer your financial gift to God electronically by scanning the QR code on the laminated card in the pew racks. These cards can also be placed in the offering plate as a sign of your faith and trust in God.
Flood Relief Update & Needs:
The outpouring of support and help from First Presby members in response to the flood relief has been tremendous! People have already given generously of their time and financial resources to help our neighbors in this very difficult and trying time. As we are aware, many counties throughout our state have been devastated by the floods. For the short term and possibly long-term, our efforts are concentrated in the Elkview, Clendenin and Clay county areas, where we have access to serve and provide resources in a very tangible way. Provided below are ways that you can get involved:
Update on Home Repairs: Our first First Presby workday occurred on Saturday, July 9. We had 15 incredibly hardworking people participate. We removed all of the rain soaked contents of a home and then removed all of the sheetrock and insulation. The homeowner’s name is Joy, and what a joy she was to be in the presence of. She expressed her deep appreciation for our “showing up to help” and said more than once how blessed she was that we were there. The blessing was truly ours to be able to help! There is another crew that arrived this week to continue to help put Joy’s home back together! If you are interested in being on our next work team, please contact Sue Webster. It will be either July 23 or 30.
Backpacks and Beds Project: Backpacks: St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, located in Pinch, is hoping to provide 100 children whose families have lost everything in the flood in the Elkview and Clendenin area with a new backpack filled with a lunch box and school supplies. St. Andrews has identified and will work with the counselors of the schools that these children attend. How wonderful for these children to start the school year with a new backpack and supplies that they need. Update: Fabulous brightly colored backpacks and supplies are beginning to arrive – What pure joy for a child to receive this wonderful gift in time for the first day of school. See the Backpack Bulletin Board in the main church hallway to participate – there are still many backpacks to choose from. The supply list to fill the backpack with is located on the picture of the backpack on the bulletin board. All backpacks/supplies need to be to First Presby no later than July 29 so that we can get them to the children in time for school to start.
Beds: The Church of the Nazarene in Clendenin is receiving a donation of beds to be distributed to local families. They have a very real need of sheet sets to distribute with the beds. What a wonderful gift for people who have lost everything, to be given a clean bed to rest their weary bodies. Update: So many people have already brought in sheets, but we still have availability to get involved. See the Backpacks and Beds board in the main church hallway to participate BEFORE purchasing and/or donating sheets. Please bring your sheets and backpacks to the main church office.
Notes of Care: We will be gathering together teams of people together to write notes of hope to those who have been devastated by the flood and also to those who are providing grief counseling and coaching to those affected. We are now three weeks in to flood recovery and people are growing very weary. Help to encourage both the flood victims and the counseling and recovery teams by writing notes to show we care for them. Update: Janet Chambers donated beautiful note cards that include reproductions of some of her original artwork – what a tremendous gift to receive. Our first team of note card writers completed 50 cards this week! The children from 2nd Hour Bible Study have also written lovely cards to their friends in need under the direction of Beth Suter. These cards will be distributed by Barbara Chalfant through the Presbytery. Additional teams of writers will be brought together in the coming weeks. Thank you to those who said that they would like to participate, you will be called on very soon.
Free Camp: The YMCA is holding a free summer camp at Coonskin Park for all children who reside in flood effected area. First Presbyterian Church is helping to support those efforts with a financial donation. Camp counselors are needed (perfect opportunities to serve for High School Students) – please contact the YMCA if you can help in this effort.
Monetary Donations: Checks can be made out to First Presbyterian Church, note: Flood Relief. We will ensure that all flood relief monies stay in West Virginia and will work through local agencies to see that all financial donations are used in the very best manner to benefit flood victims. The funds may also be directed to WVMAW to assist with flood relief.
Please remember, the flood relief needs are fluid and always changing. And, while the needs are here and now, they will also be needed for a very long time. Our goal is to employ the resources of our church members in a way that is most beneficial to those who have been affected while being worthwhile and safe for our members. As the people who are in the midst and closest to those needs communicate them to us, they will be communicated to you.
1 Corinthians 12:5-7: “There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
Traveling this summer? Keep in touch with your church family several ways. You can participate in Sunday worship – the service is broadcast on the WCHS 580AM radio website at 11:00 a.m. Check out our website, http://firstpresby.com/ to read the weekly announcements and the bulletin, download past sermons to listen at your convenience. You can log in to the website as a member and set up a recurring gift directly from your checking account or credit card to continue supporting your church ministries while away. Members can also find contact info for other church family members in the member portal. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FirstPresbyCharleston to see photos of the latest happenings. Stay in touch this summer- we’ll miss you when you’re not here!
This Week at First Presby:
Sunday, 7/17:
Communion/Urgent Needs Offering
9:15 Covenant Class
Sojourners Class
10:30 Worship
11:30 Fellowship “On the Green”
Monday, 7/18:
8:30 Aerobics
9:00 Art Camp
Tuesday, 7/19:
9:00 Art Camp (Field Trip Day)
10:00 Knitting Group
Wednesday, 7/20:
8:00 Wed. Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
9:00 Art Camp
3:00 Brotherhood of Senior Basketball
Thursday, 7/21:
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
9:00 Art Camp
Friday, 7/22:
7:00 Men’s Group
8:30 Aerobics
9:00 Art Camp
3:00 Brotherhood of Senior Basketball
Saturday, 7/23:
No Activities Scheduled